Industry professionals from all across the U.S. donated their time and expertise to help ENR identify and honor the most outstanding construction efforts completed in the U.S. and Puerto Rico between July 2011 and June 2012. Nearly 1,000 project teams submitted their best work to ENR's regional "Best Projects" competitions. For each of the nine regions, our editors assembled an independent panel of industry judges to home in on the winners in 19 categories. The winners of the regional contests moved on to the national competition.

A new jury of independent industry individuals (listed below) was assembled to examine the 169 regional winners to distinguish the "Best of the Best" in teamwork, success in overcoming challenges, innovation and quality. This year, a new award honors the safest project, judged by industry safety experts in both the regional and national competitions. Any judge who's firm worked on a project in a given category was assigned to a different category.

“Serving as a judge for the 2012 Best of the Best Projects competition was inspiring," says Matt Schlageter, principal and vice president with Martin/Martin. "The ability to review creative solutions to complex problems allows us to all improve our approach to seemingly insurmountable challenges. I trust all these projects will prove to raise the bar moving forward.”

ENR thanks the judges for their dedication and hundreds of hours of time they collectively devoted to examining the entries. The awards would not be possible without the efforts of these volunteers.

Rich Baldwin, U.S. Director of Health, Safety and Environment, PCL Construction

BALDWIN

Rich Baldwin is a certified safety professional with over 38 years of safety management experience in the government, process chemical and construction industries.  Currently, he is corporate director of Health, Safety and Environment for the U.S. operations of PCL Construction Enterprises, a firm that maintains 13 U.S. operating locations and is #6 on the 2012 ENR top 400 contractor list. Prior to working for PCL, he was corporate safety director for BE&K Construction Inc. in Birmingham, Ala. for 14 years until the firm was purchased. He is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who had several challenging safety management assignments and piloted a variety of Air Force aircraft.

Gaylord Ballard, Senior HSE Manager, KBR Building Group

BALLARD

Gaylord Ballard has over 32 years of management, human resources, risk management and safety experience. His background ranges from safety program design and implementation to teaching in a leading university’s engineering school. He has provided construction safety services for hospital, schools, high-rise office buildings, pharmaceutical operations, and other specialty buildings. Gaylord’s background also includes extensive workman’s compensation claims management. Prior to joining the KBR team Gaylord was the corporate safety director for a mechanical contracting firm in N.C. from 1990 to 2004 and safety manager for Turner Construction Co.

Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Partner, BIG  

BERGMANN

Kai-Uwe Bergmann is a partner at BIG who brings his expertise to proposals around the globe, including work in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. He heads up BIG’s business development which currently has the office working in over 15 different countries. In addition to these duties, Bergmann is also head of communications. Registered as an architect in the U.S., U.K. and Denmark, Bergmann is also LEED AP certified, and was project manager upon Central Asia's first Carbon Neutral Master Plan. Alongside his architectural practice, he has been active as a visiting instructor at IE University’s School of Architecture and Design Management in Madrid.

Garret Browne, Partner, Rockey Structures  

BROWNE

Garret Browne has been a practicing structural engineer for over 25 years. After three years working in the U.K. with SOM, he moved to Chicago in 1988. He has worked with Perkins and Will, was vice president with Thornton Tomasetti and is now working with Rockey Structures. His many residential, commercial and institutional projects in Chicago include Block 37, Palmolive Building renovation, the Chicago Spire foundation and the Shedd aquarium addition. Current projects include John Marshall law school and multiple projects for Columbia College in Chicago.

Shelley Clark, Senior Principal, Magnusson Klemencic Associates

CLARK

Shelley Clark's 34-year design history includes extensive experience with mixed-use, retail, office, residential, educational and institutional facilities. She has managed multi-block developments up to $1.7 billion in size and worked on projects throughout the U.S. and five other countries.  She brings unique insight into structures that create or reinforce a sense of identity, whether new construction or renovation of existing structures on multi-building sites. She has made national presentations on mixed-use developments and economies of design and taught graduate-level classes at the University of Washington for the last 10 years. Clark is also involved with MKA's continuing education program.

Jason Fierko, PE, CEM, LEED AP, Principal & Energy Manager, EwingCole 

FIERKO

Jason Fierko is a principal, mechanical engineer and energy modeler at EwingCole, a national leader in architecture, engineering, interior design, planning and sustainable design. With 10-years of experience, he specializes in healthcare, energy efficient and net-zero designs. He received his undergraduate degree in Architectural Engineering and Masters of Engineering Management from Drexel University. He is an instrumental participant in EwingCole's healthcare group and has been involved with several LEED Certified projects. He speaks regularly on LEED certification, energy modeling, and building energy use and reduction strategies.

Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA, President, National Institute of Building Sciences

GREEN

The National Institute of Building Sciences appointed Henry L. Green president and CEO in August 2008. He previously served as executive director, Bureau of Construction Codes/Michigan Department of Labor for more than 19 years. Leadership within the building community includes serving as a member of the board of directors of the International Code Council, completing term as president in 2006; the National Institute of Building Sciences, completing term as chairman 2003; and Building Officials and Code Administrators, president in 1997. Green was recognized by U.S. House of Representatives in 2005 as a proponent for developing and implementing building and fire safety initiatives and codes.

Erleen Hatfield, Partner, Buro Happold

HATFIELD

A partner at global multi-disciplinary engineering consulting firm Buro Happold, Erleen Hatfield serves as the leader for structural engineering in North America and has over 20 years of experience in the structural analysis, design and review of a wide range of complex projects including sports facilities, commercial, cultural, residential and academic buildings. Some of her notable projects include the new 18,000 seat arena for the University of Nebraska, World Trade Center Memorial Museum, the 34-story PNC Bank Tower and the new School of Management at Yale University. She sits on numerous national industry committees including the American Society of Civil Engineers Committee on the Design of Steel Buildings and is on the executive board of the Applied Technology Council.

Jim Isaf, Senior Vice President/Western Regional Manager, Heery International  

ISAF

A 37-year company veteran, Jim Isaf has helped establish Heery offices in London, Cleveland, Edinburgh, Berlin, Boise and Seoul. His global experience provides a unique combination of professional expertise from various international design and construction perspectives. In addition, he possesses a particular strength in planning and implementing strategies that launch the company into new markets. As the west regional manager, Isaf is responsible for the company’s business in 13 states. Isaf has a bachelor of architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology, and is a past deputy chairman of the UK Design+Build Foundation.

Christine Keville, President & CEO, Keville Enterprises Inc.  

KEVILLE

As the founder and incorporator of KEI, Christine Keville is accountable for the overall coordination, direction and supervision of this national construction management firm which has nine offices across the country. Ms. Keville earned her master's degree in construction management from Northeastern University and her bachelor's degree in mathematics from North Adams State. She is also a Massachusetts licensed construction supervisor. She is a trustee and corporator for Wentworth Institute of Technology and sits on the industrial advisory board for Northeastern University. She is past national president of the Construction Management Association of America and currently serves as chairman emeritus for CMAA’s Foundation.

Hal Matern, Vice President & Division Manager, Nashville, Brasfield & Gorrie 

MATERN

Hal Matern is responsible for the overall operations of the commercial division in Brasfield & Gorrie’s Tennessee office. Prior to earning his position as division manager, he worked as a project manager, senior project manager and operations manager. In these positions, he was involved in all preconstruction and construction activities, including overseeing coordination, managing quality and pricing, developing value analysis options, scheduling activities and developing means and methods of construction. Matern has been with Brasfield & Gorrie for 6 years and has 30 years of construction experience.

Derek McCallum, Associate Principal/Design Director, RSP Architects

MCCALLUM

Derek McCallum is an associate principal at RSP and an architect and designer specializing in digital media. His design work encompasses a diverse range of projects both domestic and international. Schooled in both Europe and the U.S., he brings a diverse and unique approach to creative thinking and award winning architecture.

Scott McKillip, Vice President, Facilities & Design-Build, SAIC Constructors LLC

MCKILLIP

Scott McKillip has 24 years of engineering, construction and management experience. He has operations responsibility for the execution of EPC projects and has led projects involving renewable energy power generation, homeland security, industrial facilities, water/wastewater and environmental remediation. He is currently the principal In charge for a 37.5 MW biomass plant under construction in Connecticut that was co-developed and financed by SAIC. He is the president of SAIC Engineering as well as an international joint venture and represents SAIC on the Construction Industry Institute Board of Advisors.  Prior to joining SAIC nine years ago, he was with Ebasco Services followed by Foster Wheeler and Tetra Tech through a series of acquisitions. 

Gary Meggison, Senior Vice President, RJM Construction  

MEGGISON

Gary Meggison serves as leader and manager for RJM Construction's Denver office. He has held leadership positions for a variety of industry organizations including president of the Associated General Contractors of Colorado and is involved in other Denver area real estate and commercial construction associations. Meggison is active at the University of Colorado Denver campus, and serves on the Engineering Leadership Council, the Creating Futures Campaign Committee. He has served with the Alumni Association and is a contributor to both the Engineering and Business Schools.

John Mick II, Chicago Region Manager, Baxter & Woodman Inc.

MICK

John Mick has over 30 years of experience with management, study, design, funding and construction of infrastructure improvements. His work has included planning for sites, corridors and communities and design of streets, intersections and highways. He has led program management efforts on local and regional projects valued at over $1 billion.  He has lectured nationally on transportation planning, program management and business development. He is skilled in cost analyses/estimating, pursuit/management of funding sources and CIP development. Professional associations include the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and National Society of Professional Engineers.

Kevin Ott, Sr. Vice President, HITT Contracting Inc

OTT

Located in the Denver office of HITT Contracting, Kevin Ott is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a bachelor of science in civil engineering and a master's in business administration. He has 25 years of experience in the construction industry and has been involved in landmark projects such as the Denver Four Seasons Hotel, One Lincoln Park and Sun Microsystems Broomfield Campus. Throughout his career, Ott has built over 15 million square feet of construction including office buildings, associated commercial interiors, healthcare, hotels, higher education, parking garages, data centers, retail, detention facilities and industrial/manufacturing projects for both public and private clients. 

Matt Schlageter, Principal/Vice President, Martin/Martin  

SHLAGETER

Matt Schlageter is a civil engineer with Martin/Martin, serving on the board of directors. He was named as a Top 20 Under 40 honoree for the Mountain States region. He manages many of the firm’s mission critical and highly sustainable projects requiring innovative and highly coordinated designs. A frequent speaker on creative design techniques and integrated delivery, he has extensive experience in campus master planning and design ranging from stateside net-zero facilities to stations in Antarctica.  

Rodney Spencley, National Safety Director, DPR Construction

SPENCLEY

DPR Construction’s Corporate Safety Director, Rodney Spencley, has worked tirelessly in the mission to create an injury free environment for DPR and the entire construction industry. Since becoming safety director in 1993, his leadership and passion for safety has led DPR Construction to be one of the safest contractors in the nation - having one of the lowest incident rates and EMR year after year. His vision has been realized throughout the company and has changed the culture to where safety is a priority and promoted by each employee.

Melody Spradlin, Director-South Bay, Dome Construction

SPRADLIN

Melody Spradlin is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in engineering. She also has an MBA from New Hampshire College and a master's degree from Stanford in construction engineering and management. She was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, serving with the Civil Engineer Corps at Moffett Field, and is a consulting professor at Stanford.

Kurt Wadlington, Sr. Project Director, Sundt Construction

WADLINGTON

Educated as an architect, Kurt Wadlington spent twenty years practicing architecture prior to joining Sundt Construction in 1999.  As building group leader in the firm's Tucson, Ariz. office, he is responsible for his team’s delivery of pre-construction and construction services consistent with client goals and objectives. Over his career, he has been involved in the design and construction of notable Southern Arizona projects for numerous clients such as The University of Arizona and Tucson International Airport. Wadlington serves as the 2013-2014 chair-elect of the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and is also involved in Southern Arizona Leadership Council P-20 Education Committee and Southern Arizona Business Education Roundtable.

Annette Zacherson, Architect, Stantec  

ZACHERSON

As an architect with Stantec Architecture Inc. in Phoenix, Annette Zacherson has more than 20 years of hands-on design and construction experience. Through her work, Zacherson fosters the use of sustainable practices and materials, and is actively involved in LEED projects minimizing the impact of the built environment upon its natural setting. She stays closely involved with the design, development of construction documents and coordination throughout the life of her projects. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, she is a member of the American Institute of Architects and National Council of Architectural Registration Board.